Location: London, UKM, GB Belfast, UKM, GB
Manchester, UKM, GB Edinburgh, UKM, GB Cardiff, UKM, GB
Company: British Council
We support peace and prosperity by building
connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and countries
worldwide.
We work directly with individuals to help them gain
the skills, confidence and connections to transform their lives and shape a
better world in partnership with the UK. We support them to build networks and
explore creative ideas, to learn English, to get a high-quality education and
to gain internationally recognised qualifications.
Working with people in over 200 countries and
territories, we are on the ground in more than 100 countries. In 2021–22 we
reached 650 million people.
Governance and Ethics Manager
Role Type: Advisory, Policy and Expertise
Pay Band: 8 (£38,820 + £3,300 market allowance if
based in London UK)
Contract Type: Indefinite contract
Location: UK only (London, Manchester, Cardiff,
Edinburgh or Belfast)
Requirements: Candidates must have the pre-existing,
permanent right to work in the UK. Mobility / relocation / visa sponsoring
support will not be provided.
Closing date: 12th October 2023, 11:59pm
Summary
This is a fantastic opportunity to join a truly
unique organisation. A charity by law, the British Council is also an Arm’s
Length Body of HM Government, funding its activities from a variety of sources
(including commercial income and Government grant-in-aid). The Governance Team,
as part of the Corporate Affairs department, plays a critical role at the heart
of the British Council, working closely with colleagues across the globe and
with other specialist teams. The Governance Team is firmly committed to the
British Council’s charitable aims and living its values.
We are looking for a Governance & Ethics Manager
to complement our small but highly effective team. The candidate must have some
previous experience in corporate governance and/or risk and compliance, will be
well organised and methodical in their approach to their work, and an excellent
communicator. It will suit somebody who enjoys working with others but is also
capable of working independently with limited supervision. The ideal candidate
will have some formal training or qualification(s) in governance, risk
management, compliance and/or business ethics, but this is not essential.
If this sounds like the place and role for you, we’d
love to hear from you.
Role Purpose
This role is based within the Governance Team but
requires close working with Legal, HR, Finance and other departments to
increase understanding, engagement and compliance with key aspects of the
British Council’s ethics framework, including the Code of Conduct the Global
Policy Statements and mandatory training. The role will include planning and
implementing frameworks to strengthen risk management, compliance and reporting
on a range of ethics-related issues such as, but not limited to, mandatory
training and conflicts and declarations of interest and gifts and hospitality
as they relate to senior executives and trustees.
The Code of Conduct (the Code) sets out the
fundamental values and principles everyone working for and with the British
Council must adhere to. It provides the
guidance and compliance mechanisms required to protect the reputation of
individuals and the British Council as a global organisation.
The role holder will also be responsible for leading
the wider Corporate Affairs department’s approach to and compliance with its
Diversity & Inclusion Plan, working as a valued ‘thought partner’ to senior
Corporate Affairs colleagues to ensure that the department models the values,
behaviours, and practices we aspire to.
They will also work alongside the other governance
managers in the Governance Team and wider Corporate Affairs colleagues to
ensure the top-level governance of the organisation is understood and adhered
to, providing secretariat support to one or more senior executive and/or
trustee boards and committees as required.
The role holder will also provide specialist support
to the Director Corporate Affairs and Head of Governance on an ad hoc basis,
leading on discrete pieces of work and initiatives required to manage risk and
compliance in organisational governance.
Main Accountabilities
Sector/subject expertise
Ensure the Code of Conduct (the Code) continues to
be relevant, accessible and up-to-date, taking account of developments in
external standards and recommended practice, particularly those applicable to
the UK public and charity sectors.
Ensure the Code is communicated regularly and meaningfully,
both across the organisation and to our partners, and that it is seen as
‘alive’. Develop and implement an annual Code of Conduct engagement strategy
and plan.
Manage Code of Conduct related compliance monitoring
and assurance exercises, working with other specialist teams as required.
Follow up issues identified through these exercises. Provide concise reports
and practical recommendations to the Director of Corporate Affairs, Senior
Leadership Team and, if appropriate, trustees.
Provide clear and practical advice to colleagues on
compliance with the Code. Manage the development and communication of guidance
on specific areas where needed.
Manage the annual review and update of the Global
Policy Statements. Ensure they are communicated appropriately, for example as
part of induction for new staff.
Manage the corporate mandatory training framework.
Working with HR’s learning and development team and with policy owners, ensure
training materials are regularly reviewed and updated and that the mandatory
requirements are communicated clearly and consistently. Monitor and report on
compliance and act on non-compliance.
Lead on planning, monitoring and reporting on
Corporate Affairs’ compliance with the Diversity Assessment Framework. Embed
learning to strengthen Corporate Affairs’ engagement with the diversity
strategy.
Professional services expertise
Provide Secretariat support to the Board of Trustees
and its committees and/or top-level executive boards as required.
Manage the Corporate Affairs budget to target,
working with our Finance Business Partner and reporting to Head of Corporate
Affairs.
Ensure good record keeping practices in relation to
all the above.
Role Specific Skills
Able to communicate clearly and effectively, and
develop collaborative working relationships, with colleagues at all levels
(including Executive Directors) and across cross-cultural teams
Confident to stand up to management challenge and
promote doing the right thing
Exercising discretion and judgement in relation with
sensitive and confidential material
Strong project management skills
Strong analytical skills
What we offer:
Competitive salary offer
32 days annual leave, in addition to public holidays
3 days volunteering leave
A generous defined benefit pension (alternative
scheme available)
Season ticket loans
Cycle to work scheme
Employee Assistance Program
Finally, we offer an unrivalled opportunity for you
to get to use all the knowledge, skills and experience you’ve built up to
support us in building peace and prosperity between people in the UK and
countries worldwide.
A connected and trusted UK in a more connected and
trusted world.
Equality , Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Statement
The British Council is committed to policies and
practices of equality, diversity and inclusion across everything we do. We
support all staff to make sure their behaviour is consistent with this
commitment. We want to address under
representation and encourage applicants from under-represented groups, in
particular, but not exclusively, on grounds of ethnicity and disability. All disabled applicants who meet the
essential criteria are guaranteed an interview and we have Disability Confident
Employer Status. We welcome discussions about specific requirements or
adjustments to enable participation and engagement in our work and activities.
The British Council is committed to safeguarding
children, young people and adults who we work with.
We believe that all children and adults everywhere
in the world deserve to live in safe environments and have the right to be
protected from all forms of abuse, maltreatment and exploitation as set out in
article 19, UNCRC (United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child) 1989.
Appointment to positions where there is direct
involvement with vulnerable groups will be dependent on thorough checks being
completed; these will include qualification checks, reference checks, identity
& criminal record checks in line with legal requirements and with the
British Council’s Safeguarding policies for Adults and Children.
If you have any problems with your application
please email askhr@britishcouncil.org
Please note: Applications to this role can only be
considered when made through the Apply section of our careers website. Our ‘ASK
HR’ email is only to be used in case of a technical issue encountered when
applying through the careers website. Emails with supporting statements and
CV/Resumes sent to this email address will not be reviewed and will be deleted.
